Note: This is a seattlepi.com reader blog. It is not written or edited by the P-I. The authors are solely responsible for content. E-mail us at newmedia@seattlepi.com if you consider a post inappropriate.

Bullitt Center’s Green Amenities include Composting Toilets

With the Bullitt Center’s construction coming together on 15th Ave & East Madison Street, and the building projected to be the greenest, most energy efficient commercial building in the world, many of us are interested in learning more about what uber green amenities the building will have installed to reach their goal of meeting the Living Building Challenge. After touring the building’s construction site, we were curious to learn more about the use of composting toilets.

According to the Living Building Challenge requirements, all water must be harvested and treated on site, and to meet this challenge in reference to management of human waste the Bullitt Center team has collaborated with Advanced Composting Systems of Whitefish, Montana to install Phoenix Composting Toilets in their lavatory facilities. The system uses very little water creating compost, saving water resources, saving the energy needed to treat wastewater, and eliminating nutrient release in the watershed. Here’s how it works: When a patron enters the bathroom stall, there is a sensor that indicates whether the user is a “stander” or a “sitter.” In the tank of the toilet there is a soap solution, an air compressor, and water, and the soap solution is introduced to the water.

Bullitt Center composters, located in the building's basement.

After use, the waste travels down to one of 10 composters in the basement of the building, where it mixes with wood shavings and water, causing it to decompose through bacteria. According to the Bullit Center‘s website, these composters are 84′ tall x 40′ wide, and 61’ deep, and there are handles on the exterior to rotate tines that will mix the compost in order to generate oxygen to the waste. Eventually, (approximately two years) the waste becomes fertilizer that can be used for certain plants, and the Bullitt Center has already found a partner to use the fertilizer. By setting the example that a six story building can successfully incorporate the use of composting toilets, the Bullitt Center hopes to establish new standards for the common office building.

Note: This is a seattlepi.com reader blog. It is not written or edited by the P-I. The authors are solely responsible for content. E-mail us at newmedia@seattlepi.com if you consider a post inappropriate.